Tray construction



C. H. BESSETT May '3, i968 TRAY CONSTRUCTION Filed July 22, 1966 I NTOR.

United States Patent 3,381,825 TRAY CONSTRUCTION Clifford H. Bessett, South Holland, 111., assignor to Packaging Corporation of America, Evanston, 11]., a corporation of Delaware Filed July 22, 1966, Ser. No. 567,213 7 Claims. (Cl. 211-74) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a tray construction and more particularly to a serving tray which is adapted to accommodate one or more cups and one or more sandwiches or some other comestible items.

Serving trays of the general type in question have become a popular means of dispensing food, including beverage, of various kinds in restaurants catering primarily to the carryout type of trade. Such trays in the past have normally been formed of foldable paperboard and as such have been beset with one or more shortcomings. A common shortcoming of such prior trays has been the lack of ability thereof to readily accommodate in a stable upright manner various size beverage cups or the like. Another shortcoming is that many of the prior trays require manual manipulation to set up before the trays are in condition for use. Oftentimes these prior trays require a substantial amount of material thereby increasing the cost thereof and at the same time are not possessed of sufficient stiffness to enable the tray, when loaded to be carried by an individual grasping only one side of the tray.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a carrying tray which is of simple and inexpensive construction and yet avoids the shortcomings of the prior constructions.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention a tray is provided which comprises a supporting surface having one or more cup-accommodating openings formed therein. Each opening is provided with a plurality of elongated yieldable fingers which project inwardly from the periphery of the opening. A predetermined number of the fingers are provided with protuberances. The predetermined fingers, prior to the opening accommodating a cup, assume a substantially coplanar relation whereby the protuberances thereof project substantially upwardly. The protuberances are adapted to cooperate with one another to subtend and contact the underside of an accommodated cup.

For a more complete understanding of the invention, reference should be made to the drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective top view showing one form of the tray in a partially loaded condition;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are fragmentary perspective bottom views of each of the two size cups shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the openings prior to the latter accommodating a cup; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to FIG. 1, a tray 10, formed of molded pulp or the like, is shown which is adapted to accommodate various size beverage cups or receptacles 11 and 12 and various parcels or packages, not shown, of comestibles such as sandwiches, etc. In the illustrated embodiment 10, a support surface 13 is provided which is delimited by a depending flange 14, the latter providing stiffness to surface 13.

Surface 13, as illustrated, is rectangular in configuration, and is provided with a centrally disposed recessed portion or well 15 which is adapted to accommodate various items, not shown. Disposed on either side of portion 15 and spaced therefrom are pairs of cup-accommodating openings 16, 17, 18 and 20. Each of the openings is of like configuration and therefore only one thereof will be described in detail. It is to be understood, of course, that the number, size and location of openings 16-18 and 20 may be varied from that shown if desired.

Opening 16 includes two sets of fingers 21 and 22 which are symmetrically arranged and extend radially inwardly from the periphery of the opening. The fingers 21 are longer than fingers 22 and are alternately arranged with one another. The inner end of each finger 21 terminates in an upwardly extending projection 23. Because of the length and width of fingers 21, the latter are bendable and yield about a hinge score 24, as required, to accommodate the cup 11 or 12, see FIGS. 2 and 3.

Fingers 22 are less yieldable than fingers 21, however, when a relatively large cup, such as 11 is positioned in opening 20, for example, they will also bend about a hinge score so as to snugly engage the tapered exterior surface of the cup and hold the cup in an upright vertical position, see FIG. 3.

The projections 23 of fingers 21 contact and subtend the underside of the cup 11 or 12 and serve to prevent the cup from accidentally passing through the opening, in the event the cup is undersized. Furthermore, when the fingers 21 are flexed downwardly to accommodate a cup as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the ends of the fingers project downwardly from the underside of the bottom of the cup and function as feet so as to prevent contact between the cup bottom and a table top, if the loaded tray is placed upon such table top.

The number and shape of fingers 21 and 22 may vary from that shown in FIG. 1, if desired.

The recessed portion, or well, 15 may be recessed to the same extent that the flange 14 depends from surface 13. If desired, portion 15 may be compartmentalized by upwardly projecting ribs, not shown.

The tray 10 may be readily molded in one piece of paper pulp whereupon the fingers 21 and 22 are disposed in coplanar relation at the time of molding with the projections 23 extending upwardly. By reason of the continuous depending flange 14, the tray 10 is possessed of sufficient stitfness so that it may be readily grasped by one hand even though loaded, without collapse of the tray.

Where the tray is formed of conventional molded pulp material, there is an advantage that any liquid spilled from the accommodated cups will be absorbed by the tray rather than running off and soiling the garment of the person handling the tray. If desired, however, the tray may be readily formed of other moldable materials such as expanded polystyrene or the like which may or may not be possessed of this absorptive characteristic.

Thus, it will be seen that a convenient, sturdy, inexpensive yet effective tray has been provided which will readily handle numerous items, including beverage cups or the like of various sizes. Like trays, when not in use, may be readily stacked in nested relation so as to occupy a minimum of space or nested and then bundled for bulk shipping or storage.

While several embodiments of this invention have been described above, further modifications may be made thereto and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A tray construction comprising a support surface having formed therein a cup-accommodating opening, said opening having a plurality of elongated fingers projecting inwardly from the periphery of said opening, a predetermined number of said fingers being bendable and having protuberances disposed adjacent the inner ends thereof; said predetermined fingers, prior to a cup being accommodated in said opening, assuming a substantially coplanar relation whereby said protuberances project upwardly.

2. The tray of claim 1 wherein said predetermined fingers are symmetrically arranged and are separated from one another by fingers of shorter length.

3. The tray of claim 1 wherein a plurality of cupaccommodating openings of like configuration are formed on said support surface.

4. The tray of claim 1 including a recessed portion disposed adjacent said cup-accommodating opening.

5. The tray of claim 1 wherein said support surface is delimited by 21 depending peripheral flange.

6. The tray of claim 1, including a plurality of spaced cup-accommodating openings, and a recessed portion disposed intermediate certain of said openings.

7. The tray of claim 6, including a peripheral flange delimiting said support surface; said peripheral flange depending from said support surface in substantially the same direction as said recessed portion. is recessed from said support surface.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,056,237 3/1913 Waller 2l7-21 XR 2,238,545 4/ 1941 Whiley 217-26 XR 3,326,445 6/1967 Goings 211-74 XR ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

